Sprinkler head



'@ct. 30, 1934. W B. CLIFFORD SPRINKLER HEAD File-d Aug. 29, 1931 [lllrPatented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER HEADApplication August 29, 1931, Serial No. 560,204

8 Claims.

The p present invention .relates to sprinkler heads, and moreparticularly to this type of apparatus employed for generating spray forshower heads or the like.

Thepurpose of the invention is to produce a comparatively simple,practical and instantaneously operative shower head which serves to cutoff the flow of water through the head upon occurrence of excessivetemperatures.

I accomplish this result by locating within the chamber formed by theshower head itself, temperature-controlled apparatus which operates avent or relief valve normally closed but instantaneously operated uponoccurrence of excessive temperature within the water passing through thehead. This vent directs the water in a direction away from the personstanding beneath the shower, and insures against `any contact withexcessively hot water. I appreciate that suggestions have been madeheretofore for safeguarding against the passage of hot water through a-shower head, but so far as I am infomed, all of these prior proposalsare virtually ineffective and wholly impractical due to the fact thatthey completely terminate the flow of water through the head. Althoughsuch an arrangement may or may not be practical for terminating the flowof water through the head upon occurrence of excessive temperatures,they fail in their intended purpose because they do not serve toimmediately restore the flow of water upon reduction of temperature tonormal conditions, this due to the fact that cutting off the flow ofwater through the head merely serves to develop or build up a leg of hotwater between the head and regulating valve, this' hot water serving toheat the head itself and connected parts, and maintain an excessivelyhigh temperature for substantial periods after the water has either beencut olf entirely or has been reduced to a normal temperature.

By virtue of my construction, the water supply is continuously flowingthrough the chamber head and about the thermostatic valve in such 45 afashion that the latter is at all times instantly responsive to thetemperature of water as controlled by the mixing valve. After havinginitially opened the vent due to the presence of excessively hot water,cooling of the water due to 50 operation of the mixing valve isinstantaneously reflected because ofthe. continuous flow of water,causing the vent to close and restoring the sprinkler head to its normalmode of operation.

My valve is furthermore designed to avoid any possibility of leakage ofhot water through the usual spray device during the period that the ventis in operation. This I accomplish by providing virtually a dam whichinsures that the entire supply of water shall pass through the vent whenthe latter is opened.' due to excessively high temperatures.-

In the accompanying drawing illustrating th preferred form of theinvention, Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly in section of theimproved sprinkler head; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sprinklerhead shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the valve shown inFig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the limiting stop for thethermostatically operated valve.

In the sprinkler head shown in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, a housing 10 is provided which may be a brass casting, a diecasting, or conceivably a forging, the head being provided with theusual sprinkler cap 12 having a perforated surface 14. This cap isthreaded to the housing at 16, and has therebehind a chamber 18co-extensive with the sprinkler surface to distribute 'water thereover,the chamber 18 being supplied with water for the sprinkler cap through apassage 19 cored or otherwise formed in the housing 10. This passage iscontrolled in the usual fashion through a rotatable cock valve 21,having an externally attached handle 22 to operate the valve and meterthe flow of water through the sprinkler head.

The rear portion of the housing l0 is provided with a threaded extension24, which may be connected to the usual service connection 26 through asleeve 28. With this construction the valve is ideally adapted forreplacement, as the usual sprinkler head may be removed and my improvedtype of head mounted thereon by merely unscrewing the coupling. Asindicated, the sprinkler head may be mounted at any angle through theemployment of the ball support 30, the member 26 normally projectingfrom the pipe connection in a horizontal direction, and the adjustmentof the sprinkler head as a rule causing the perforated surface of thecap to be maintained at an angle which may be 45 more or less from ahorizontal plane.

'I'he incoming supply of water for the sprinkler head is directedthrough a passage 32 into the control chamber 34, the passage beingcaused .to communicate directly with the chamber by a sleeve 36 insertedin the housing. Communication between the chamber 34 and the supplyconer portion of the chamber 34, this v1:-== e 38 being separated fromthe inlet passage through the sleeve 36. Incoming water is caused toimpinge directly upon a bellows thermostat 40, mounted within thechamber 34 opposite the inlet passage so that this unit is caused toaccurately reflect the temperature of the incoming water at a pointconsiderably in advance of the point at which this body of water reachesthe sprinkler cap. This bellows unit is preferably fllled witha liquidwhich is volatile at the temperatures employed, which may be on theorder of 100 to 105 F. Such a liquid develops substantial vaporpressures at these temperatures and causes the bellows unit to expandactively in a manner to open or unseat the disk valve 42, which isconnected therewith through a stem 44. This disk valve normally seatsupon a valve ring 46, and when unseated serves tovent water directlyfrom the lower portion of the chamber 34 through a funnel-shaped outlet48. Due to the area of the vent outlet and the fact that it discharges-directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34,

the entire supply entering the chamber is immediately vented withoutpermitting any of the supply to be delivered to the sprinkler capthrough the passages 38 and 19. The venting of the water immediatelyindicates to the operator the existence of excessive temperatures, andas the mixing valve is then manipulated to reduce the temperature, thiswater, reduced in temperature, is caused to impinge upon the bellows,closing the valve and restoring the normal operation of the sprinklerhead. The passage 19 may be closed by a light flap valve in the form of-a leaf spring anchored at 52, the free end of this valve closing theend of the passage 19. In the normal operation oi the sprinkler head thepressure within the chamber 34 and the communicating passages 38 and 19is controlled bythe pressure within the system, which is amplysuilicient to maintain this valve open and permit the free ow of waterto the sprinkler cap. Upon venting of the system through pressurewithin, the passage 19 is immediately reduced, causing the valve toclose and insuring against any possible leakage of water through thesprinkler head itself.

The thermostatically-controlled valve unit may be simple andconveniently made from stampings, as indicated in the drawing, thebellows being anchored at the upper end by a U-shaped strap 62, which isconnected at its opposite free ends to a plate 64 in which the valveopening 46 is provided. The legs of this strap are slotted at 66, andthe valve stem is provided with a limiting member 70, connected to thestem and engaged at opposite ends by the slots, this strap serving tolimit the free movement of the bellows and valve under the creation ofexcessive temperatures. Without some such limiting device, the excessivevapor pressure created by contact with hot water might otherwise expandthe bellows suillciently to cause injury.

The valve disk 42 is connected to the stem 44 through the medium of athreaded sleeve 68, which permits a relative adjustment of the valvedisk with respect to the stem and provides a means for regulating theventing temperature of the sprinkler head. This Will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art. The entire thermostatic valve assembly isconveniently demountably supported Within the housing 10 throughengagement with the demountable vent member 48, which is provided withshoulders engaging and clamping the plate 64. The vent is connected tothe housing through cap screws 75, and upon removal of the vent thevalve assembly may be removed complete without dismantling `thesprinkler head.

As will be evident from an inspection of the drawing, if the sprinklerhead as a unit is mounted at an angle of approximately 45, which is the`usual mounting of this type ofapparatus,' the vent serves todirect hotwater vdirectly down into the space therebeneath and away from theperson standing in the range of the shower. By the same token,regardless of whatever adjustment may be given thesprinkler head, aperson standing within the range of water delivered through the surface14 will be entirely without the range of the stream delivered from thevent 48, so that there can be no liability of danger of scalding orburning therefrom. -On the other hand, the instant that the relief valveopens to permit ow of water directly from the lower portion of thechamber 34, there is no further possibility of water being deliveredthroughthe perforatedsurface of the sprinkler cap, eliminating thehazard therefrom.

The bellows unit in lthis apparatus may be satisfactorily lled with amixture of acetone and ether, or some equivalent fluid affordingsufficient vapor pressure to impart the desired activity tothe bellowsthroughout the operating range, which may approximate 100 to 105 F. orthereabouts. Although yafill causing operation of the bellows by liquidexpansion might conceivably be employed within the bellows, neverthelesssuch a illl would not be as active, nor give as instantaneous responseboth to raising and lowering of the temperature, as in the case of afillboiling at temperatures below the working range" i What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler head comprising a housing having a control chambertherein, a perforated sprinkler surface, a circuitous passage connectingthe sprinkler surface with the control chamber, a water inlet leadingdirectly to the control chamber, avvalve normally closing the passageexcept when pressure is created therein, a vent communicating directlywith the control chamber, and thermostatically operated means within thechamber for regulating the delivery of water through the vent.

2. A sprinkler head comprising a housing. having a sprinkler surfaceconnected therewith, a water inlet communicating with the housing, asecond and vent opening from the housing, means for thermostaticallycontrolling the flow of water either through the sprinkler surface orthe vent 13,0

from the housing, and a pressure operated valve for preventing deliveryof water to the sprinkler surface upon reduction of pressure within thehousing due to diversion of waterthrough the second opening.

3. A sprinkler head comprising a chamber having a water inlet openingthereinto, sprinkling and diversion outlets, a valve vcontrolling thedif version outlet, and a thermostatically fllledbellows connected withthe valve. and positioned opposite the inlet and subjected directly towater entering therethrough,` the bellows being -arranged to normallyhold the valve closed against water pressure within the chamber and toopen the valve with the pressure upon exceeding a predeterminedtemperature range therein.

4. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, a water inlet connected to thehousing, a water sprinkler outlet, a diversion outlet, andv a bellowsand valve assembly detachablymounted in the diversion outlet andnormally sealing the outlet against the escape of water therethrough,the valve being designed to .open with pressure upon exceeding apredetermined temperature range within the chamber.

5. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, water sprinkling meansconnected with the housing, a water inlet to the housing, a diversionoutlet, a bellows within the housing, a valve connected with the bellowsand designed to normally yclose the diversion outlet against pressurewithin the housing, and means for adjusting the valve with relation tothe bellows to varyy the temperature within the housing at which thevalve opens.

6. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, a

nected with an inlet supply, means for deliveringa sprinkling spray fromthe housing, a diversion vent opening from the housing, a valvecontrolling the diversion vent and opening with pressure, a bellowsfilled with thermostatic fluid connected to the Valve and normallyoperating to open the valve upon occurrence of a predetermined excessivetemperature range and normally serving to retain the valve seatedagainst pressure due to vacuum pull within the bellows, and means fornormally limiting the excessive movements of the bellows under theinfluence of excessive temperatures.

WALTER B. CLIFFORD.

